Packing and display device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 23, 1936. A. B. CAREY PACKING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 25, 1955 m m WWJ Nr R 0 w B A W vb Am 1 A\ My 8 2 4 l l l l l l I IH U m 0 M MM [J l M 6 m vw o T I M M; a J j Q 2 T. Z IIIHI! J [HAN x J J i, V k W 3 wl ww U J f J J l 1 WN G 1 I 5 llll IHMUNPWI I F ,IwA H U June 23, 1936.

A. B/cAREY PACKING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 25, 1955 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR; v

I Abner 5. Carey BY LI ATTORNEY.

' holding a like number of eggs.

inplacing the eggs inthe spacing elements, the eggs must not be permitted to fall from the hand,"

Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,045,292 PACKING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Abner B. Carey, Grayville, Ill.

Application March 25, 1935, Serial No. 12,860

z'oiai 's. (01. 226-16) dedicated to disclosing the packing and display of eggs when they are packed, as is usuallythe case'with the use of spacing elements and basal supports. 7

Eggs, being fragile, the loss through breakage in packing is appreciable.

operation, eachegg must be handled separately. The conventional method is to place a fiat'plate orbasalsupport made of cardboard or pressed composition material, in the 'bottorn'o'f the egg case. g-ral-sheetof composition material, on which are pressed projections. formed'cups or dished depressions. The cups are of such shape-and size that an egg maybe stood on its end'in' each cup. On this basal support is placed the cardboard separators, which are collapsible, in such position thatthe cups of the basal l support are positioned within the confines of the spaces formed between the spacing elements. An

egg-positioned in the spacing element and on the basal element is supported byboth. Over the top of'the spacing element is placedone basal plate,

which in turn on its upper side forms the support" vThis process is con--; tinued until the entire space .within the egg case for the next layer of eggs.

is filled with eggs.

In the conventional egg case there are fiver layers of eggs, each layer comprising three dozen eggs. The case is divided intotwo portions, each that is the eggs must be carefully and'lightlypositioned in the spacing elements. This operation is performed byunskilled operators. In placing the eggs in the spacing elements of the bottom or lower. layers, the percentage of breakage is great,

because the operator must reach to the bottomiof.

the. case, or at least thelower.portionlofitwith the. egg in his hand. There ispracticallyfno loss The cost of packing eggs 7 must be reduced to a minimum. In the packing- A basal support usually consists'of an inte- In the projections are It is obvious that through breakage in'placing eggs inLthe separating element when the top or upper separating elements are filled. Applicant has devised means for reducing the breakage in packing of the lower layers to a point where it is not higher than is the case in packing the upper layers. This is accomplished, in applicants device, by filling one layerwhen its top is either fiushed with the top of the egg case, or protrudes above the sides of the egg case. When the layer is filled, the layeris lowered a distance equal to the height of a layer of eggs,- and another spacing element is positioned on the filled spacing element, in the manner previously described. The second spacing element is" then filled, forming the second layer of eggs. In this manner by successfully lowering each layer, all of the layers will be filled without compelling the operator to stoop or reach into the egg case. The

spacing element that is to be filled is-always easily accessible. p I

It is well known that the display of commodities, particularly fruit, increases the sale of the commodity. i This is true with commodities; such as eggs, but they are seldom-exhibited, because there is no practical means of making the dis play. It is desirable to make the display without beingcompelled to remove the eggs. The preferable method of displaying the eggs is while the But when .they'arein eggs are still .in the case. the-case, only the extreme tops of the-eggs are visible, because thetop layer of eggs isfiushed Withflthe. sides of the case, within which the. eggs are packed.

Applicant has devised a means for elevating the eggs in the case, so that the upper layer of eggs.

will protrude above the sides-of the case, The spacing elements may then be removed from the. upper exposed layer of eggs, in which position they will be supported by the basal'support,,and in which position they are entirely visible, with the exception of the small portion in contact withthe" cups in the basal support. As each layer of eggs is sold, the succeeding layer is elevated to the protruding position. If the-eggs are to be subsequentlypacked in cartons 'for the consumer, the

separating elements are not removed from the case or fr'omlthe upper protruding layer.

The device herein described is to be used by retailers, who are dispensing eggs from the case, and who are subsequently confronted with the task of packing the eggs'for the consumer in small quantities, such as'dozen lots. Most eggsthat are sold bya retailer are. removed from the "case, and. placed in a carton. In thiscarton, which is usual-, ly made. ofpasteboard, and-which is folded-from- 7 to time and as' to breakage.

a fiat cut sheet, are positioned spacing elements of the same type as are used in the egg case, with the exception that the carton is of such size as to accommodate either one or two dozen eggs; whereas in each layer of eggs in the case, space is provided for three dozen eggs. Obviously where the eggs that are removed from the case are simply placed in a paper bag, the packing operation, from the standpoint of the retailer, cannot be simplified. He must handle each egg and perform the operation very carefully. With this situation, applicant is not concerned.

Applicant is concerned with the removal of the eggs from the case without removing them from the spacing elements, so as to use the spacing elements of the egg case, as the spacing element for the carton, thereby obviating the necessity of handling the eggs separately, and thereby saving the expense of duplication of the spacing elements. By applicants method and device, the upper layer of eggs, together with the basal plate and the spacing elements, is elevated until the bottom of the basal plate and of the spacing elements'is slightly elevated above the side walls of the egg case, and of the stand used by applicant in this device. The entire layer of eggs, together with the basal plate, and the spacing elements, is slid over the top of the next lower layer of eggs, and spacing elements over the lateral wall of the egg case, over the lateral wall of the stand, provided by applicant, on to a plate secured to the stand, On this plate, by the method to be subsequently described, one or two rows of eggs are cut away from the layer of eggs, and the row or rows that have been cut oil are then slid into the conventional carton, which is held at the end of the plate.

Itwill, therefore, be seen that applicant completely removes the necessity of the purchase by the retailer of the carton spacing elements. Not only that, but he enables the retailer to remove the eggs from the case to the carton without contact with each egg, or with any of the eggs. This results in a great economy in operation, both as The device, herein described, may be made of few and simple parts that lend themselves readily to multiple production. The device may be cheaply made, is portable, light in weight, and provides simultaneously storing space for the egg case, until the eggs are sold, and provides a novel display possibility.

In the handling of bulk commodities, such as, forinstance, oranges or nuts or potatoes, it is well known that the uppermost portions of the containers and content are the most salable. No customer desires to purchase from a container that is nearly empty. He desires preferably to purchase from a container that has just been opened.v Furthermore, in the case of the bulky storage, as the upper portions of the commodity are removed, it becomes very difiicult for the purchaser to see the commodity near the bottom of the container. It is, therefore, to the advantage of the retailer to have the commodity always visible from the top, both from the standpoint of the optical appeal that it makes, and from the standpoint of conveying to the prospective purchaser,the impression that the container is not practically empty. Furthermore in the case of perishable fruit or vegetables, it is an advantage to havethem aerated as much as possible, and the elevating process used in applicant's device succeeds in accomplishing this to a degree for all of the fruit, and to a maximum degree for the upper practically totally exposed fruit.

With these and other objects in view, my invention has relation to certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my device.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of my device, showing the elevator removed from the device proper, except by its chain contact with the device proper.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan view of the plate used in my device, showing the method of cutting the spacing elements and positioning them in a carton.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing a bulk commodity, such as oranges in place of eggs, as are shown in the other figures of the drawings.

Numeral I designates a stand having the four legs or posts 8 and the side walls 9 and the end Walls I0. One of the side walls 9 extends almost to the bottom of the legs or posts 8. The end walls 10 extend almost to the bottom of the legs or posts 3. The walls 9 and ID are secured to the legs or posts 8, by any conventional means, such as nails or screws. By this means is formed a stand rectangular in shape and slightly higher than twice the height of the case into which products are to be placed or removed. The walls 9 and II] are of such length that the space within them will accommodate the egg case. These dimensions are such that the egg case will fit flushly within the stand 7, and against the walls 9 and I0. On the inner faces of the end walls h are secured the cleats l I, the ends of which are flush with the side walls 9. The cleats H are positioned a distance below the top of the stand 1, equal to the height of the case that is to be positioned within the stand 1. It will be seen that by the structure thus far described that an egg case, either empty or full, may be positioned within the stand I, with its side and end walls flush with the side and end walls of the stand 1. One of the walls 9 is cut away as shown at l2.

The structure to be now described is that which r is necessary to elevate or lower layers of eggs into and out of the case. It is to be understood that the egg case itself remains stationary. Numeral l3 designates a shaft, which is journaled in the end walls I0. shaft [3 that extend beyond the end walls ID are squared for the reception of a handle I 4. By means of the structure shown, the handle I l may be used at either end of the shaft l3.

Numeral l5 designates a set screw for tightening the handle M on to the end of the shaft l3. Numeral I6 designates an elevator, which consists of a substantially U-shaped plate, having one of the parallel faces substantially longer than 0 The protruding ends of the basal plate used in the packing, so that if the is removed, as shown at I8. insertion of the longer parallel portion of the elevator is positioned between thebottom of the case andthe lowest basal element, it will raise the basal element, and everything above it in the egg case. In order to move the elevator I3 vertically in the position described, chains I1 are secured or screwed at one end to the shorter parallel plates of the elevator I6, and the other ends of the chains I1 are secured to the shaft I3. Two chains are used for each elevator. All of the chains are the same length. The jointure between the chains and the elevators I6 is made near the lateral edges. The jointure between the chains I1 and the shaft I3 are spaced apart, as best shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that by the structure thus far described, that when theshaft I3 is rotated that the chains II will be wrapped or unwrapped from the shaft I3, depending upon the direction of rotation of'the shaft I3. Obviously as the chains are wrapped around the shaft I3, the portion between the shaft I3 and the elevators' I6 is shortened.

Prior to placing an egg case in the stand 1, a narrow strip from one of its walls near its bottom This permits the elevator I6, beneath the lower basal plate.

Numeral I9 designates a rod and numeral 20,

channels, which are secured to the inner faces 'parallel portions thereof will be in substantial horizontal planes. The chains I1 are of such 'lengththat when in their unwrapped position they will be taut, when the elevator I6 is in the position above described. As the shaft I3 is rotated, by means of the handle I 4, the elevator It moves upwardly vertically, the lower corner of the elevator'I 6 engaging the rod I9 in frictional engagement. The .vertical portion of the elevator IS in this position moves upwardly in frictional engagement, with the inner faces of the egg case. This engagement between the vertical portion of the elevator I6 and the inner wall of the egg case, prevents the elevator from rotating outwardly and the rod I9 prevents the elevator I6 fro-m rotating inwardly. By these means the upper plate of the elevator I6, in the position indicated, is moved straightly and vertically.

In this movement the rod l9 moves vertically in the channels 20. In order to hold the elevators I6 in any desired position, a pawl and ratchet is employed, the ratchet 2| being secured to the shaft I3 external to the end wall Ill. The pawl 22 is rotatively secured to the end wall I0 in 0perative engagement with the ratchet 2|. By the means, thus far described, any and all of the basal plates and separating elements may be moved vertically at will, within the egg case, and so that the upper layer may protrude above the egg case and the stand I. The egg case may be indicated by the numeral 23, the basal plate by numeral 23 and the separating elements by numeral 24, and the eggs by numeral 25.

Numeral 21 designates a plate or cover, which is secured by hinges 28 to the upper longitudinal wall of the stand 1. The plate 21 may be rotated on the hinges 28 to form a top or cover for the stand 1. It has another and more important function, which will now be described. To perform this function, it must be positioned in a horizontal plane. To accomplish this, the support 29 is hingedly secured toone of the side walls, 9, preferably at one "of the posts or legs 8. Numeral 3II designates a transverse cleat secured to the lower side of the plate 21. The support 29' is of such length that when placed in the position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the plate 21 will I be held in. a horizontal position. When the plate is not in use, it may be rotated to its closed position, andthe support 29 rotated downwardly to a vertical position, shown in Fig. 3.

f Numeral 3I designates a longitudinal stop and 32 a transverse stop, both stops being secured to the upper face ofthe plate 21, when it is in its I horizontal position.

Numeral 33 designates a longitudinal slit cut in the plate121, parallel to and in spaced relationship with the longitudinal stop 3|. Numeral 34 I tend into the cut away portion.

When it is desired toremove a layerofeggs from the egg case to the plate 21, wheni'the'iayer is flush with the plate 21, the layer is slid on to the plate 21 against the longitudinal stop 3| and the transverse stop 32. The purpose of this movement is to transfer the eggs, together with the basal plate and separating, elements from the egg case to an egg carton. If theegg carton were large enough to accommodate the entire layer of eggs, basalplate and separating elements, nocutting operation would be necessary, but the conventional carton holds one dozen eggs and'the conventional layer in the egg case holds three dozen eggs. The carton is shaped so that it will accommodate two rows of eggs, with six eggsin a row, together with the basal plate and separating elements necessary for one dozen eggs so positioned.

Numeral 35 designates a'knife, preferably of the type used in cutting bread, Which knife may 3I and the slit 33 is made equal to the width of the protruding edges of the separating elements and the basal plate. When, therefore, the basal plate and separating elements, which are filled with eggs is cornered between the longitudinal stop 3I and the transverse stop 32, the protruding edges of the separating elements and the protruding edge of the basal plate may be cut out by inserting the knife 35 into the slit 33, and cutting or sawing along this line. The knife 35 is then removed, the protruding edges that have been cut off are discarded, and the basal plate, together with the separating elements and their contents are again squared between the longitudinal stop 3I and the transverse stop 32. The distance between the slits 33 and 34 is the same as the width of two egg rows. The knife 35 is then positioned in the slit 34 and the basal plate, together with the separating elements cut. By these means two rows of eggs, 6 to a row, together with the basal plate support, and the separating elements havebeen separated or cut from the original six row egg layer, together with its basal plate and separating elements.

The next task is to remove the two rows of eggs, together with their supporting basal plate and separating elements from the plate 2'! into a carton 36. This is accomplished by holding the carton 36 in the'position shown in Fig. 5 in the drawings. In this position one end and the top of the carton is opened, the opposite end of the carton is closed and the side walls stand upwardly. The carton is held so that the inside of the bottom is flush with the top of the plate 21, and so that it registers longitudinally with the two rows of eggs that are to be positioned in the carton. This process is completed by sliding the two rows, together with the basal plate and separating elements through the space between the longitudinal stop 3|, and the transverse slot 32, from the plate 21 on to the bottom of the carton 36. When this has been accomplished, the open end of the carton 3'6 is fastened and the top closed. The removal of the eggs from the case to the carton has, therefore, been accomplished without the handling of the eggs separately; it has been accomplished rapidly and it has permitted the use of the separating elements from the egg case, as the separating elements for the eggs in the carton. Obviously in removing the next carton, no edge of the basal plate, nor separating elements need be cut for removal. The process is continued until three double rows have been cut from the original layer of eggs, and until each double row is lodged in a separate container.

In Fig. 6 the elevator I6 is shown for elevating the oranges 31, so that the uppermost oranges will always appear above the top of the case, in which they are packed. Obviously the case always appears to be full of the oranges, as long as there are sufiicient oranges within the case to cover one layer of the bottom of the case.

What I claim isi 1. In combination with a stand having a space for the reception of a commodity case, an elevator positioned in said case, said elevator being substantially U-shaped, one of the parallel por- 6 tions of said elevator being positioned beneath the lowest layer of commodity, filling the commodity case placed in said stand, a rod positioned in sliding engagement in said stand, the other parallel portion of said elevator being placed so 10 that said rod rests in the lower corner of said elevator, a shaft rotatively positioned in said stand, chains having one end secured to said shaft and the other to the lower parallel portion of said elevator, a handle secured to said shaft, aratchet secured to said shaft, a pawl secured to said stand in operative relationship with said ratchet, so that by rotating said shaft said elevator may be raised or lowered, and so that by means of said pawl and ratchet said elevator may be secured in any of its positions.

2. In combination with a stand having a space for the reception of a commodity case, an elevator positioned in said case, one of the parallel portions of said elevator being positioned beneath the lowest layer of commodity, filling in the commodity case placed in said stand, a rod positioned in sliding engagement in said stand, the other parallel portion of said elevator being placed so that said rod rests in the lower corner of said elevator, a shaft rotatively positioned in said stand, chains having one end secured to said shaft and the other to the lower parallel portion of said elevator, a ratchet secured to said shaft, a pawl secured to said stand in operative relationship with said ratchet, so that by rotating said shaft said elevator may be raised or lowered, and so that by means of said pawl and ratchet said elevator may be secured in any of its positions.

ABNER B. CAREY. 

